Carazoo Indian Car Blog

One of India’s best loved cars, the Maruti Esteem, is no more. It’s sad news not only for esteem lovers but also for race enthusiasts. The model was first launched in 1994 replacing India’s first sedan the Maruti 1000. The Esteem was admired for its smooth performance and its capable 85 bhp 1.3-liter petrol engine. Many buyers have loved the fuel economy it delivered.

The car figured in several Indian racing circuits and was a favorite among drag racers. It was acknowledged as a car that required low maintenance and managed low running costs. Many buyers willingly chose the Esteem for its easy handling and ride quality. The model has also been popular for its high resale value. Interestingly, one of IT legends Mr. Azim Premji owned an Esteem and travelled to work in it everyday that too when he figured in the “richest people in the world” list!

The design of this wonderful car, however, received constant criticism from several quarters and was termed dated. Despite this, this entry-level mid-size sedan fared well it terms of sales volume and competed well with other sedans.

Esteem will be succeeded by the Swift sedan in March 2008. As with its hatchback sibling, the Swift sedan will come with a hefty price tag. The base petrol will start at around Rs.5 lakh and the fully-loaded diesel could touch the Rs.6 lakh mark.

We last heard about the esteem when Maruti announced a massive discount of Rs 57,500 for the month of December. It’s sad to note that such an illustrious car will soon figure in history books!

Labels: Discontinued, Maruti, Sedans

posted by Carazoo Blog @ Thursday, January 03, 2008